USA: Travel ban decision confuses Manus-Nauru settlement deal

Following the United States’ Supreme Court’s decision to allow President Trump’s travel ban to go into full effect, Graham Thom, Refugee Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia said:

“This ban has always been, at its core, deeply cruel and discriminatory. Rather than keep anyone safe, the travel ban has caused chaos and instability for thousands of people who just want to travel without fear and be reunited with their families.”

“The ban also adds further confusion to the pending USA settlement deal for refugees on Manus and Nauru, many of whom are Iranian, one of the six countries impacted by Trump’s hateful ban.”

“The ban also adds further confusion to the pending USA settlement deal for refugees on Manus and Nauru, many of whom are Iranian, one of the six countries impacted by Trump’s hateful ban.

“The people on Nauru and Manus Island have suffered enough at the hands of Australia’s deliberately cruel policies.

“Their mental health and wellbeing is paramount and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull must immediately provide clarity around what this ban means for those warehoused in offshore detention and commit to resolving the cruel chaos of offshore detention.”